I always went on the theory of: first aid kit is only as good as your competence in using it. It's all well and good having a comprehensive first aid kit but if you're not being thorough on simple things like avoiding contamination - which could cause life threatening infection it's not much use!
In most day-to-day situations, basic things like a tourniquet, sterile water and absorbent pads/battlefield dressings will be enough until the paramedics get there, I certainly wouldn't want to attempt tying off arteries or resetting bones, because unless you have good medical training you'll do more harm than good!
Of course in a SHTF situation where there might not be any paramedics, things like haemostats and sutures/steri strips will be very handy, but again, i'd be more concerned with having sterile gloves, boiled water and a clean surface/area to work on. It's all well and good stopping an arterial bleed but if it then gets sepsis...
I will say though that one of the most valuable things in my kit is a head torch with spare batteries, being able to see clearly without holding a torch - or relying on someone to hold it steady/get it in the right place is a big help.
I've been meaning to do a maintnence check on my FAK so thanks to this thread i'll do that later, and post pics too
